Finding The 4077th

Learning

“Ohh she'll love that! Of course you can write, I could just send it to her along with her present if I can find one.” The clerk replied happily, he handed Chris a couple of letters to deliver to Francis, while he would deliver to Margeret. For some reason, Radar always wanted to deliver to the nurses personally, and Chris just couldn't figure out why. He didn't mind of course, as he was just happy he could help.

Chris knocked and waited for the “come in,” before he entered.

Francis got a gentle smile as he saw the child.

“I got some letters for you,” Chris said with excitement.

“My my, well, thank you, Chris! Much appreciated.” The priest collected the letters with a smile and looked them over. “Ahh this one is from my sister”

“Which one?” Chris asked with curiosity.

Francis got a big smile and happily told him about his sister. Chris wanted to listen but Francis kept on going, and he didn't have time right now.

“I-I'm sorry, but I c-can't stay any longer, I've got to d-deliver these.” The boy said. Rejecting people was so difficult, and he liked The Priest, and his stories. He was a great storyteller. But Radar was counting on him, and he couldn't let his friend down.

“Of course, you go along then… and thank you for these.” The priest said with a gentle smile. He knew that if Chris stuttered, the child was nervous and he didn't want the boy to feel bad about not being able to stay.

“Maybe we'll meet for breakfast,” Francis added.

Chris got a huge smile and nodded before he left. He hoped Radar wouldn't already be waiting for him, but he thankfully arrived before Radar did. He waited a couple of seconds before he heard a commotion at Margaret's tent.

It was a couple of tents away from where the boy stood, but he had a clear vision of the front door as a nervous Radar rushed out, the man waving around wildly while going in circles, trying to wrestle free from Margeret's stockings. It took a couple of tries but he managed to break free and quickly threw them back inside Margaret's tent.

Chris giggled as a nervous Radar joined him.
“Boy! She was screaming and everything! ” The clerk said as he composed himself and handed Chris the mail for Klinger.

They split up again and Chris headed to Klinger's tent and knocked.
"Come in." He heard Klinger call from inside. Chris opened the door and went into the tent where he saw Klinger in front of his desk painting his nails.

Klinger looked up. “Heya kid! How are you?” He asked and Chris smiled at him before answering.

“Pretty good. I brought your mail.” He said as Klinger gave him a big smile.

“Great kid! You can put them over there, I've just done my nails.” Klinger moved with his head towards his cot. “I can't ruin them now!”

Chris put the mail carefully and neatly on the cot and moved over to Klinger.

His nails are a light pink color, which Chris liked. “I love your nails, it's a nice color.”

The boy looked through the man's nail polish collection, he liked most colors, although he wasn't a fan of the weird pale green color.

“Can you show me how to do my nails?” the boy asked hopefully but got a strange look back from Klinger.

“Oh no, you don't want that! Boys don't wear nail polish.” Klinger replied.

Chris looked at the man confused “B-but you w-wear it,” He was getting nervous, the look the man gave him made him a bit scared, he didn't understand what Klinger meant.